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Copyright, 1917 
By George Stratford Oakum Co. 



Useful Facts 

about 
and Kindred Rx>ducts 







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I OAKUM af Kindrea Products j 



Plant of 

George Stratford Oakum Co, 

Jersey City, N. J. 



The Largest Oakum Plant in the World 

The plant of the George Stratford Oakum Co. 
occupies a ground area of about 5 acres and twenty- 
one buildings. The main buildings are all of brick 
construction and are three stories in height. The 
plant has a maximum capacity of about 20 tons of 
Oakum per day, and in addition about 5 tons per 
day at its Cobalt plant, which is by far the largest 
production of any Oakum factory in the world. 

Owing to the fact that the manufacture of Oakum 
is a specialized industry of relatively small volume 
as an industry, it has never been feasible to develop 
standard machinery which could be used by the 
trade generally, as is the cdse in many lines where 
the total volume of productioii is larger. Conse- 
quently, the Stratford plant, since its establish- 
ment in 1860, has been developed by its proprietors 
from their own experience — with the result that 
many of the machines and the processes employed 
are exclusively used in the Stratford business and 
are not found in any other Oakum factory any- 
where. 

Unquestionably the Stratford plant is the most 
efficient, as well as the largest, Oakum factory in 
the world. Every known labor-saving device ap- 
plicable to the manufacture of Oakum is in use, 
and the management is constantly on the alert for 
anything that will reduce cost of production, in- 
crease output or improve quality. 

George Stratford Oakum Co. 

Jersey City, N. J., U. S. A. 



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History of 

George Stratford Oakum Co. 

** Biography is the only true history" 

—Carlyle 



Every successful, long- established business necessarily has 
its roots in the past. Its history is largely the biography 
of those who have been the principal contributors to its suc- 
cess. The business of The George Stratford Oakum Co. has 
been successful since its foundation. Started in 1860, it is 
now more than half a century old. Though old in years it is 
young in spirit. From a very small beginning, the business 
has grown to the largest oakum business in the world. With 
its long record of satisfactory dealing, it goes without saying 
that the company numbers among its friends, customers of 
many years' standing. Therefore, with the belief that a brief 
biographical sketch of the founder of the business and his 
successors will prove of interest, this sketch is here presented . 

The founder of the business was GEORGE STRATFORD, 
a member of an old and famous English family. He came to 
this country as a youth, found employment in an oakum fac- 
tory in Jersey City and learned all he could in that position. 
He then secured a position in another Jersey City oakum 
factory. Shortly after he became head of a small oakum 
factory in Brooklyn, New York. In 1860 he started business 
on his own account, forming a partnership and purchasing 
a block of land in New York City. The plant was burned 
in 1863, after which Mr. Stratford purchased his partner's 
interest and built a new plant on Hudson Street, Jersey City. 
He then became a partner in the firm of Benjamin Mills & 
Sons (who had an oakum factory on Wayne Street, Jersey 
City) in the purchase of the McCormack Oakum Mill on 
West 42d Street, New York City. This mill was run only 
two or three years and the partnership dissolved. Later, 
with the failure of Benjamin Mills, Mr. Stratford bought all 
of the machinery of the Wayne Street plant. Soon after this, 
Mr. Stratford formed a partnership with W. O. Davey, and 
this continued until the Hudson Street mill burned May 9, 
1870. Mr. Stratford then continued alone, buying the site 
on Cornelison Avenue, Jersey City, where the present plant is 
located. New buildings were erected and equipped, and the 
plant started active operation in the fall of that year. 



\ OAKUM ^Kindrea Products I 



Mr. George Stratford continued as active head of the busi- 
ness until his death in 1902. 

In the early '80's ROBERT JOHN STRATFORD entered 
the oakum mill, and a few years later another son, WILLIAM 
GEORGE STRATFORD, joined his father. In January, 
1885, the present company was incorporated in New Jersey 
for a period of 20 years, and in 1905 its life was made perpetual. 

On February 18, 1891, an unfortunate fire occurred and the 
factory was completely burned out. But this did not stop the 
progress of the company. A fine modern building was con- 
structed, having four times the capacity of the old one. 

In 1894, ROBERT J. STRATFORD was obliged to retire 
on account of ill health, and HERBERT RIDLEY STRAT- 
FORD joined his father in his place. ROBERT J. STRAT- 
FORD died in 1899; GEORGE STRATFORD, the founder 
of the company, died in 1902; and HERBERT RIDLEY 
STRATFORD died in 1907. 

In 1902, after the death of GEORGE STRATFORD, 
three more sons became affiliated with the company : 
ARTHUR CHAZOTTE STRATFORD became Secretary, 
and FRANK BURNETT STRATFORD and EDWIN 
HOLBROOK STRATFORD, Directors. Upon the death of 
HERBERT R. STRATFORD, in 1907, ARTHUF^ C. 
STRATFORD became President and FRANK B. STRAT- 
FORD, Secretary and Treasurer. MORGAN DECKER 
was elected Secretary in 1916. 

At different times the company has acquired, by purchase, 
the business of other oakum concerns. It purchased the 
-entire business of H. L. Alden, Camden, Maine, after a disas- 
trous fire in the Stratford plant on March 13, 1908. It pur- 
chased, in 1911, the plant and business of the Tibballs Oakum 
Co., Cobalt, Conn., which was established in 1828. Some of 
the machinery of the Tibbals plant is being used at the present 
time by The George Stratford Oakum Co., to increase its 
production. 

The George Stratford Oakum Co. holds membership in the 
following organizations: 

United States Chamber of Commerce. 
National Association of Manufacturers. 
American Supply 86 Machinery Mfrs. Assn. 
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce. 
Jersey City Chamber of Commerce. 
The Rotary Club of Jersey City. 

"He Profits most who serves best" 

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OFFICERS, PAST AND PRESENT, OF GEORGE STRATFORD OAKUM CO. 



: OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



" Idleness is Hoslile to Renown " 

CHRONOLOGY 

GEORGE STRATFORD 

Bom in Ireland, of English parentage, June 16, 1828. 

Died, Jersey City, April 20, 1902. 

Founded George Stratford Oakum Co., 1860. 

Founded Jersey City Paper Company, 1876. 

Vestryman, Treasurer, Warden, St. Johns P. E. Church, Jersey City. 

ROBERT JOHN STRATFORD 

Born Jersey City, 1856. 
Died, New York, 1899. 

Vice-President, George Stratford Oakum Company, 1883-1894. 
WILLIAM GEORGE STRATFORD. 

Secretary, George Stratford Oakum Company, 1885-1894. 
Vice-President George Stratford Oakum Company, 1894-1917. 
Director Stratford Paper Company, 1917. 
Veteran. 4th Regiment N. G. N. J. 

HERBERT RIDLEY STRATFORD, A. C. 

Bom, Jersey City, 1873. 

Died, Jersey City, 1907. 

Lehigh University, 1894. 

Secretary George Stratford Oakum Company, 1894-1902. 

President George Stratford Oakum Company, 1902-1907. 

Director, Second National Bank. 

Director, Union Trust Co. 

Director, Jersey City Trust Co. 

Member of Jersey City Board of Education. 

Executor, Estate of George Stratford, 1902-1907. 

FRANK BURNETT STRATFORD, M. E. 

Cornell University, 1895. 

Director, George Stratford Oakum Company, 1902-1917. 

Secretary-Treasvirer Stratford Oakum Company, 1907-1917. 

President, Jersey City Paper Co. 

Secretary-Treasurer, Stratford Paper Company, 1916-1917. 

EDWIN HOLBROOK STRATFORD 

Comell University, 1897. 

Director, George Stratford Oakum Company, 1902-1917. 
Secretary-Treasurer, Trust Company of New Jersey. 
Director, Jersey City Paper Company. 
Vice-President, Stratford Paper Company, 1916-1917. 

ARTHUR CHAZOTTE STRATFORD 

Colimibia College, 1902. 

Secretary, George Stratford Oakum Company, 1902-1907. 
President, George Stratford Oakum Company, 1907-1917. 
Executor, Estate of George Stratford, 1902-1917. 
Director, Rock Plaster Mfg. Co., of N. Y., 1912-1917. 
Director, N. J. Title Guarantee & Trust Co., 1912-1917 
Director, West New ^ork Trust Co., 1^12-1915. 
Vice-President, Jersey City Board of Trade, 1910-1911. 
President, Jersey City Board of Trade, 1911-1913. 
Vice-President, Jersey City Chamber of Commerce, 1916. 
President, Stratford Paper Co., 1916-1917. 

MORGAN DECKER 

Secretary, George Stratford Oakum Co., 1916-1917 

Jersey City High School, 1882. 

Bookkeeper, entered employ, 1889. 

Auditor, 1912. 

Secretary, 1916. 

Treasurer-Manager Berkeley Mfg. & Supply Co. 




RKPRJbStNTATIVES OF GEORGE STRATFORD OAKUM CO. 



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i OAKUM ^Kin<lrea Products I 



^c^lopedia 



OAKUM 

Oakum — a prepara- 
tion of tarred fibre used 
in ship building, for 
caulking or packing 
joints of timbers in 
wooden vessels and the 
deck planking of iron 
and steel ships. Oakum 
is made by preference 
from old tarry ropes and 
cordage of vessels. 

Encyclopedia Britannica 



OAKUM 



Oak'um, ok'um, n. 
(1) NauL Hemp-fibre 
obtained by untwisting 
and picking out loosely 
the yams of old tarred 
hemp rope used in 
caulking ships' seams, 
etc., sometimes also in 
dressing wounds. (2) 
Coarse hemp or flax 
hacklings. 

Standard Dictionary. 



Geo.StratfbrcL Oakum Co. 
Put the O'lt into Oakum 



\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



The Romance of Oakum 

The traditions of American shipping are redolent 
with the tarry odor of Oakum. There is romance 
about the * 'smell" of Oakum. To the deep-sea 
sailor, it is a veritable perfume, as it is to all who 
have anything to do with ships and shipping. It 
suggests the magic and mystery of the Seven Seas. 
It brings back to memory those famous old * 'Down- 
East" seaports, out of which sailed the globe- 
encircling Yankee square-riggers, the historic Yan- 
kee clippers that doubled Cape Horn, the stately 
four and five-masted coast- wise schooners and their 
forbears, ''the plodding little two masters" — all 
being representative of an era when Yankee ship- 
ping figured prominently in commercial activities 
the world over; when Yankee seamanship was 
supreme and stood for the highest degree of mari- 
time efficiency. But even though the old types of 
American sailing vessels belong to an era that has 
become largely history and tradition, the use of 
Oakum is as extensive at the present time as it 
was in the palmiest days of wooden shipbuilding. 
"The merry music of the caulking mallet' ' 
is daily heard in American shipyards; 
for although wooden shipbuilding is a 
comparatively small part of the total 
tonnage now laid down in American 
yards. Oakum is extensively used in 
modern ships of steel construction. 

The various brands of Oakum manu- 
factured by George Stratford Oakum 
Co. bear the distinction of being the 
favorites of American shipbuilders — a 
statement borne out by the fact that the 
production of this company is greater 
than that of any other manufacturer 
of- Oakum in the world. 




I OAKUM ^Kindred Products ! 



Oakum Classes and Grades 

All Oakum is made of soft vegetable fibre, such as 
hemp and jute, impregnated with pine tar. In 
general. Oakum is divided into two classes, known 
as Marine and Plumbers' Oakum. 

Marine Oakum is used for all forms of Marine 
caulking work, such as seams of vessels, decks of 
vessels and caissons. This Oakum is made entirely 
of hemp. 

Marine Oakum is divided into various grades^ 
In the general trade, there are three grades off 
unspun Oakum and three grades of spun Oakum.' 
This company has always produced four grades, 
having one grade of much higher quality than any 
produced by any other manufacturer of this prod- 
uct. The grades of Marine Oakum are known as 
New Best, Best, U. S. Navy and Navy, and are 
made both spun and unspun. The raw material! 
for all these grades of Oakum must be imported! 
from Europe, and during the European war it has! 
been necessary to use such material as was ob- 
tainable. Very often, this material could not be 
made into these regular grades. As substitutes, 
therefore, this company has been manufacturing 
three grades of Special Oakum, No. 1, 2 and 3, to 
parallel the regular grades. 

Plumbers' Oakum is used for caulking all kinds 
of pipe, such as bell and spigot, iron, soil, water 
supply, waste, sewer and gas. We are the origina- 
tors of Plumbers' Oakum, which we established 
in 1891. 

Plumbers' Oakum is divided into four grades, 
known as Plumbers' Spun, Plumbers' Coiled, 
Plumbers' Navy and Rope Oakum. 



13 



\ OAKUM ^KinJred Products i 



New Best Oakum 

This grade is made solely by the George Stratford 

Oakum Co. It was originated by them, and has 

never been made by any other manufacturer. It 

.is manufactured strictly from new Russian hemp 

I and hemp tows, tarred with the finest quality of 

;i Stockholm tar. It is noted for its attractive color 

and distinctive odor, Stockholm tar having a 

different odor from that of any other tar in the 

world. It contains almost no waste whatever, 

being made of new material; it is clean and free 

from knots or yarns which appear in all Oakum 

made of old rope. 



14 



I OAKUM ^Kindred Products 




I OAKUM ^Kindred Products 3 



Best Oakum 

Next to New Best Oakum, Best Oakum is the 
highest grade of Oakum. It is made from old 
tarred Russian and Italian hemp rope, mixed with 
a certain percentage of new hemp, freshly tarred. 
The fibre is long and well finished, as free as pos- 
sible from lumps and yarns, and contains less waste 
than the lower grades. 

Because of its quality, larger quantities are 
sold of this grade than any other. 



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OAKUM ©'Kindred Products \ 



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17 



I OAKUM ^Kindred Eoducts 



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U. S. Navy Oakum 

This grade is known as the middle grade. The 
fibre is not quite so long as that in Best Oakum. 
It contains somewhat more waste than Best Oakum 
although not as much as the third grade. It is 
usually the best Oakum that can be produced for 
the differential in price between it and Best Oakum. 



\ OAKUM ^Kin<lred Froducts I 



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\ OAKUM ^Kindred Eoducts 3 



Navy Oakum 



f The lowest grade of Marine Oakum manufac- 
tured. The fibre is considerably shorter than that 
of the U. S. Navy and the waste runs somewhat 
higher; the Oakum is not as well finished. Navy 
Oakum is used to a small extent in this country, the 
largest proportion of it being exported to the South 
American countries. 



20 



; OAKUM ^Kindrea Products i 




21 



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■ OAKUM gf Kindred Products 



Nf-U^VJW 



A caulker 
can caulk, 
And a spinner 

can spin; 
But he can't 

spin well, 
Nor caulk 

with a din, 
'Less Stratford's 

Spun Oakum 
Is hammered 

hard in. 




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\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products 



AMAi 



Spun Marine Oakum 

The grades of New Best, Best, U. S. Navy and 
Navy are manufactured both in carded unspun 
form and in Machine spun form, put up in balls or 
hanks, at an additional cost over the unspun of 
about Ic per lb. Unspun Oakum, before it can be 
used, must be spun by hand, at an average cost of 
from 3 to 5c per lb., whereas machine spun Oakum 
is ready for use when it leaves the factory, or with a 
slight respinning. It contains considerably less 
waste than its parallel grade in unspun, and brings 
the user a large saving over the cost of the unspun 
Oakum after the hand spinning. The Oakum is 
first wound into what are known as balls, which 
unwind from the center like a ball of twine, or in 
hanks such as a hand spinner makes after spinning 
the carded Oakum. The silver or thread of this 
Oakum runs from about 43 to 75 feet to the pound, 
the lower grades being shorter or heavier thread; 
the average thread in Spun Best Oakum is about 
55 feet to the pound. 



23 



f OAKUM ^Kindred Boducts ' 




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24 



f OAKUM ^Kindred Froducts I 




25 



\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products i 




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: OAKUM af Kindred Products 




27 



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I OAKUM ^Kindi«d Products j 



Plumbers' Oakum 

Originated by George Stratford Oakum Co. in 1891 

Plumbers' Oakum is used by the plumbing trade, 
in the caulking of all pipes, soil or iron, water 
supply and waste water. It is made entirely of 
jute. 

Plumbers' Oakum is divided into four grades, 
which are known as Plumbers' Spun, Plumbers' 
Coiled, Plumbers' Navy and Rope Oakum. All of 
these grades are used for Plumbers' use, solely, 
with the exception of the Plumbers' Navy, which 
is also used in horseshoers' work, and this is some- 
times known as horseshoers' Navy Oakum. 



Plumbers' Spun Oakum 

This is the cheapest grade of Oakum produced, 
and is most popular among the plumbers' trade. 
It is made of jute, jute waste and carded jute 
bagging, and contains a larger percentage of tar 
than any other grade of Oakum. 



28 



I OAKUM ^Kindred Boducts I 



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29 



f OAKUM ^Kindred Products ' 



Plumbers' Coiled Oakum 

This grade is exactly the same material as Plumb- 
ers' Spun Oakum, prepared in the same way, except 
that after being spun it is put up in the form of 
spools or balls which unwind from the center, 
similar to Marine Spun Oakum. It is used for 
exactly the same work as other grades of Plumbers' 
Oakum, and it is in somewhat handier form. As a 
rule, it costs more than the Plumbers' Spun Oakum. 



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30 



OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



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31 



I OAKUM ^Kindred Boducts 3 



Plumbers' Navy Oakum 

Horseshoers' Navy Oakum 

Dealers' Navy Oakum 

These three brands are identical in quality 

This is the same material as the Plumbers' Spun 
and Coiled Oakum, prepared in the same way, 
except that it is carded or loose in form, sold in 
bulk, 50 lbs. to the bale. It can be used for the 
same purposes, but is worth a higher price. It will 
not go as far in the ordinary plumbers' use, its 
chief use being for caulking horses' hoofs. 



32 



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f OAKUM ^Kmdred Boducts 



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\ OAKUM ^Kin<]i«d Products 



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Rope Oakum 



This is made entirely of jute, and comes in the 
form of a rope, about |-inch in diameter, wound in 
coils of about 50 lbs. each. In its untarred state it 
is used for caulking of water supply pipes, so that 
there is no possibility of the water being contami- 
nated with tar in the various joints in the pipe. 
In its tarred form, it is used for all other kinds of 
pipe caulking, lead, soil, and iron pipe. It is 
somewhat more handy in form to use than the other 
grades of Plumbers' Oakum, and many contractors 
prefer it for this reason. Some claim that it can 
be made into a tighter joint, as it is more compressed 
and not so spongy, packing better than the other 
forms. 



34 



: OAKUM ^Kin<]i«a Boducts 



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ROPE OAKUM 



35 



\ OAKUM ^Kindred Eoducts i 



Plaster and Upholstery Fibres 

Put up in the same form, in 50-lb. bales, as 
Marine Oakum. Made of twisted hard fibre, 
having great resiliency, and used as a substitute 
for hair in the manufacture of plaster and for up- 
holstery purposes. Originated by this company 
in 1915. 



36 



OAKUM ^Kindrea Products I 



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37 



: OAKUM ^Kindred Products | 



Fire-Proof Oakum 

Originated by George Stratford Oakum Co. 

Made of jute without any tar and chemically 
treated so as to resist fire. Will absorb moisture 
readily and is designed for use only in the caulking 
of window frames in fireproof buildings. 



Spun Caulking Cotton 

Brands, Superior and Superlative. These brands 
are very popular. They represent the two grades 
of cotton that are mostly used; cotton being em- 
ployed in the caulking of seams in conjunction with 
Oakum. Many yards prefer to make the inner- 
most caulkings of cotton, with Oakum as the next 
caulking in between the cotton and the pitch. It 
is also used for small boat work, where Oakum 
cannot be brought down to a small enough thread. 



\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products i 




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39 



\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



Sheathing Felt 

Sheathing Felt is put up in crates, 250 sheets to 
the crate, each sheet 32 by 40 inches, about 1/16- 
inch thick. It is made principally of jute fibres, 
pressed together, impregnated with tar and pitch. 
It is impervious to water and is used between steel 
and wooden decks, between wooden partitions of 
various kinds and between planking and copper 
sheathing on bottoms. 



I OAKUM ©'Kindrea Products I 




41 



I OAKUM ^Kinarea Products I 



Friction, Binders' and Trunk 
Boards 

These are more or less a by-product of Oakum, 
as some of the waste material from the manufacture 
of Oakum is used in the manufacture of what is 
known as tar board; the best boards contain some 
of this material. 

Friction Board is used in the manufacture of 
friction pulleys. 

Binders' Board, of course, is used in the binding 
of books. 

Trunk Board is used in the manufacture of 
trunks and suit- cases. 

In general, all of these boards are packed in 
bundles of 50 lbs. each, the number of the board 
being indicative of the number of sheets to the 
bundle, as for instance: A No. 4, 34 by 44 board 
would indicate that there are four boards to a 
bundle 34 by 44 in size weighing 50 lbs.; a No. 12, 
26 by 38 board would indicate that there would be 
12 boards 26 by 38 to a bundle of 50 lbs. This not 
only illustrates the weight, but also the thickness of 
the board. 



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: OAKUM ^Kinared Froducts 



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43 



OAKUM ^Kindrea Products i 



Trade Customs 

Oakum is always soldSO lbs. to the bale, gross 
weight, no allowance for tare. 

Prices are always subject to change without 
notice, all quotations are made subject to imme- 
diate acceptance. 

Superior Cotton is put up in bales of 50 and about 
100 lbs. 

Superlative Cotton only in bales of about 100 
lbs. 

Rope Oakum comes in coils of about 50 lbs. each. 

All agreements are contingent upon strikes 
accidents and other causes beyond our control. 

Oakum factories invariably sell Oakum by the 
pound, whereas dealers are in the habit of selling it 
by the bale. 

As prices are subject to fluctuation, they will be 
quoted on request. 

No freight allowance ; sold f . o. b. factory. 

No commissions allowed to syndicate buyers. 



44 



I OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



Loading of Trucks 

Many concerns who do not handle Oakum con- 
tinuously in large quantities are not obtaining the 
maximum capacity of their trucks. The accom- 
panying series of illustrations show how best to get 
this maximum capacity in a truck load of Oakum. 

No. 1 picture shows 40 bales standing on the 
floor of the truck, 10 deep and 4 wide. 

No. 2 shows the second tier lying on its side, 7 
deep and 4 wide. 28 bales. 

This makes a total of 68 bales in the two tiers. 

No. 3 shows the third tier, 10 bales on each side 
of the truck, lying on the side, 6 bales in the center, 
4 in the back, making a total of 30 bales for this 
tier. 

No. 4 shows the fourth tier, containing four in the 
front, 6 in the centre and 10 on each side, making 30 
bales. 

No. 5 shows the fifth tier with 11 bales on each 
side. 

This makes a total load of 150 bales, equals 3f 
tons. 



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OAKUM ©'Kindrea Products 



liiimaaiiiaiii 




V^.V-.- . V'v 



No. 1 — Showing 40 bales of Oakum standing on 
floor of truck, 10 deep and 4 wide 



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I OAKUM ^Kindrea Products i 




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No. 2 — Showing the second tier laid on its side, 7 
deep and 4 wide — a total of 68 bales on 2 tiers 



OAKUM ^Kindred Products 



••iini^ia 




No. 3 — Showing the third tier 10 bales on each side of the 

truck, lying on the side, 6 bales in the center, 4 in 

the back — making a total of 30 bales for 

this tier 



48 



^^^^^^^^^^^ 



OAKUM ^Kindred Products 



• ••••(jinaif 




No. 4 Shojfring the fourth tier containing 4 in front, 6 in 
center, 10 on each side — ^30 bales in all 



49 



I OAKUM af Kindred Products I 




No. 5 — Showing the fifth tier with 11 bales on each side 
— a total of 150 bales for the load 



50 



\ OAKUM ^Kindrea Products 

(iiiaa^miiiaiaiaiiaiiiiiiiiiaaiiaiii^iK 




51 



\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products 3 






I 




LOADED MOTOR TRUCK 




THREE MOTOR TRUCKS AND TROY TRAILERS 



52 



\ OAKUM ©'Kindrea Froducts 







U. S. BATTLESHIP "MICHIGAN" 

Built by New York Ship Building Company, Camden, N. J. 
Caulked with Stratford Oakum 

On the U. S. Battleships "Utah" and "Michigan," the new Dread- 
naught "Oklahoma," built by the New York Ship Building Co., Stratford 
Oakum was used, and the Oakum was reported satisfactory. — ^New York 
Ship Building Co., Camden, N. J. 




U. S. DREADN AUGHT "OKLAHOMA' 
Caulked with Stratford Oakirni 



53 





MOTORSHIP, "CITY OF PORTLAND" 

Built by St. Helens Shipbuilding Co., St. Helens, Ore. 
Caulked with Stratford Oakum 



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u 






MOTORSHIP "SEABORN" 

Built by Seaborn Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Wash. 
Caulked with Stratford Oakum 



54 




SCHOONER "TIFTON" 

of Boston, being caulked with Stratford Oakum at Tietjen & 
Dry Dock Co., Hoboken, N. J. 



Lang 




NON-MAGNETIC YACHT "CARNEGIE" 
She is the only boat of her kind in the world 

She was built for the Carnegie Institute, Washington, D. C, by the Tebo 
Yacht Basin Company, for making accurate magnetic surveys, practically 
no iron being used in her construction. She is well caulked with Stratford 
Oakum. 



55 




SCHOONER "GOVERNOR AMES" 
is the first five-master schooner ever built 
She made her first trip twenty years ago from Portland, Me., to Buenos 
Ayres, with 1,896,000 feet of lumber. Captain C. A. Davis went around 
Cape Horn with her, spent three years on the Pacific Coast, made a voyage 
to Australia, then to Honolulu, then to Puget Sound and then to Europe. 
She has been nearly around the world and has always made successful 
voyages. This vessel is caulked with Stratford Oakum. 




REPLICA FULTON'S "CLERMONT" 

Caulked with Stratford Oakum 

Built By Staten Island Steam Boat Company 



56 




MOTORSHIP JUNE 

Under construction at the yard of Chas. R. McCormick Co., 

St. Helens, Oregon 

Caulked with Stratford Oakum 




STAR OF ICELAND 

Alaska Packers' Fleet 

Caiolked with Stratford Oakum by Hanlon Dry Dock Co. 



57 



ww^ 



I OAKUM ^Kindred Products 




The flag raising held April 28, 1917, at the factory of George Stratford 
Oakum Co. 



58 






Letters of Appreciation 

"As to the quality of the Oakum which you have furnished 
us in the past, we beg to state that it has been entirely satis- 
factory and we have no complaint from it whatever. — Amer- 
ican Ship Building Co., Cleveland, Ohio." 

"As to the quality of your Oakum, we have, of course, 
used large quantities of your product during the past few 
years and have always found it perfectly satisfactory. — Mil- 
waukee Dry Dock Co., Milwaukee, Wis. 

"The Oakum which you have supplied to us on our orders 
has been entirely satisfactory. We have used it very exten- 
sively, for decks, caulking, etc., on various vessels which we 
have built, and it has given A-1 results. — Seattle Construction 
& Dry Dock Co., Seattle, Wash." 

"We are pleased to state that your Oakum has been giving 
universal satisfaction and, while we have tried out other 
brands in competition, have not found them to be at all 
satisfactory, and, if you are able to keep us supplied, Strat- 
ford's will be the only brand that we will handle. — Pacific 
Net & Twine Co., Seattle, Wash. 

"We would like to place our order with you for Oakum, 
same to be shipped as soon as possible. 

"Would say that our customer has received samples from 
five other manufacturers but would have nothing but Strat- 
ford Oakum even though there would be a delay, — John 
McCullough, New Bedford, Mass." 

{This letter was Written to one of our competitors) 

"Your letter of the 10th with quotation received and in 
reply, beg to advise that we do not handle anything but Geo. 
Stratford's Oakum. We find that Stratford makes the best 
Oakum that we have ever been able to obtain for the money 
and we have been buying from them for over 40 years. 

"We wish to thank you for your quotation but will say that 
we are not in the market for any Oakum. — The M. I. Wilcox 
Co., 0. S. Wilcox, Pres., Toledo, Ohio. 



: OAKUM af Kindred Products I 



Leaders in All New Things in 
Oakum 

First, George Stratford Co. originated the dif- 
ferent grades of Plumbers' Oakum. 

Then it was first in the American field with 
Machine Spun Marine Oakum. 

After that, Plaster and Upholstery Fibre. 

Finally, it originated Fire-Proof Oakum. 

Before the advent of Stratford's Fire-Proof 
Oakum, a Fire-Proof Oakum had long been sought, 
but not deemed practicable. 



Oakum used in construction or repair of a vessel 
is so important and its total cost so relatively 
small that owners are very unwise not to specify 
the finest oakum obtainable — which, of course, 
means Stratford's. 

Good oakum in the seams of a vessel is like good 
red blood in a man's veins and the older the vessel 
the more she needs good caulking. 



60 



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: OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



No Danger of Spontaneous Com- 
bustion with Stratford's Oakum 

The Bureau for the Safe Transportation of Ex- 
plosives and other Dangerous Articles requested 
samples of Oakum from us for scientific tests as to 
spontaneous combustion. Although they re- 
quested samples of only two or three grades, we 
furnished them with samples of all eleven grades 
and severe tests were made of each. We take 
pleasure in quoting from their report under date of 
March 14, 1912, as follows: 

"Samples of the various grades of Oakum were received 
from the George Stratford Oakum Company of Jersey City, 
N. J. All of these various grades consist of Jute or a similar 
fibre (hemp) impregnated with tar or a mixture of tar and 
mineral oil. A test for spontaneous heating was made on 
each sample in the following manner : Several pounds of the 
tightly packed material were placed in a water- jacketed oven, 
with the contents of water jacket at boiling temperature, the 
temperature of the interior of the oven was maintained at a 
constant temperature of 100 degrees C (212°F). In every 
case, the heating effect was not shown during the first nine 
hours. The maximum temperature observed in the oven 
tests are tabulated below: 

Centigrade Fahrenheit 

New Best Oakum 101° 213.8° 

Best 101° 213.8° 

U. S. Navy 101.5° 214.3° 

Navy 103° 217.4° 

Spun New Best 101° 213.8° 

" Best 101° 213.8° 

" U. S. Navy 102° 215.6° 

" Navy 102.5° 216.5° 

Plumbers' Spun 103.5° 218.3° 

Coiled 102.5° 216.5° 

Navy 102° 215.6° 

The increase of heating occurring sponta- 
neously in these samples is very slight and 
commences very slowly. The risk of sponta- 
neous ignition or heating in transportation 
or storage is negligible. They are not classed 
as inflammable under the Interstate Com- 
merce Commission Regulations. 



61 



f OAKUM ^Kindred Froducts J 



This article from the Jersey Journal, besides giving a 

brief history of the George Stratford Oakum Co., gives 

an idea of the wide distribution of its product 

The Business of the George Stratford Oakum Co. is dis- 
tinctly a wholesale business. Shipments are made from the 
factory in large quantities, the greatest part of the business 
being carload business. The policy of the concern is to ship 
to large distributing places in various parts of the ^world, 
allowing them to distribute to the smaller trade. This con- 
cern has risen until at the present time it is the largest pro- 
ducer of Oakum in the world. It was founded in 1860 by the 
late George Stratford, and at present is operated by his sons. 
The concern occupies about five acres of land, using about 
twenty-one buildings. In addition to Oakum it is manufac- 
turing Binders, Trunk and Friction Boards, Tarred or/Untarred 
Jute Packing, Oakum Felt, Caulking Cotton, Plaster and 
Upholstery Fibres. 

The company recently acquired the property of the Jersey 
City Paper Co., and is now operating that plant for the manu- 
facture of high-grade tissue paper. It is about to form a new 
corporation for the handling of the Paper Company property, 
naming the new company "The Stratford Paper Co." The 
byisiness of the Jersey City Paper Co. was founded in 1876 by 
the late George Stratford who also founded the Oakum Co. 

During 1915, Oakum was shipped direct from the factory to 
the places mentioned below, at which places it was either on 
sale or again distributed to various other places, no records of 
which can be obtained at the factory. 

UNITED STATES 



Alabama 


4 Cities 


Missouri 


2 Cities 


California 


6 " 


New Jersey 


20 " 


Delaware 


2 " 


New York 


63 " 


Colorado 


1 


No. Carolina 


5 " 


Connecticut 


4 


Ohio 


7 " 


Florida 


5 " 


Oklahoma 


1 " 


Georgia 


5 " 


Oregon 


2 " 


Illinois 


1 " 


Pennsylvania 


15 " 


Indiana 


4 " 


Rhode Island 


2 


Kentucky 


2 " 


So. Carolina 


3 " 


Louisiana 


2 " 


Tennessee 


4 " 


Maine 


9 " 


Texas 


8 " 


Maryland 


3 " 


Vermont 


1 " 


Massachusetts 


5 " 


Virginia 


5 " 


Michigan 


3 " 


Washington 


3 " 


Minnesota 


2 " 


West Virginia 


9 " 


Mississippi 


1 


Wisconsin 

CANADA 


2 " 


Alberta 


1 City 


Nova Scotia 


1 City 


Brit. Columbia 


2 Cities 


Ontario 


11 Cities 


Manitoba 


1 " 


Quebec 


2 " 



62 



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\ OAKUM ^Kindred Products I 



'AM^^MMm^^M^MM^^, 



SOUTH AMERICA 
ARGENTINE 

Puerto Deseado, Puerto Madryn 
BRAZIL 
Itacoatiara, Manaos, Maranhao, Para, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande 
1 CHILE 

Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Corral, Cobija, Eten, Iquique, Puerto Montt, 

Punta Arenas, Talcahuano, Valdivia Corral, Valparaiso 

COLOMBIA 

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Pto Col\ambia, Rio Hacha, Santa 

Marta, Savanilla, Tumaco 

ECUADOR BRITISH GUIANA 

Bahia, Guayaquil, Manta Georgetown 

DUTCH GUIANA FRENCH GUIANA 

Paramaribo, Surinam Cayenne 

PERU URAGUAY 

Callao, Payta, Salaverry Montevideo. 

VENEZUELA 

Carupano, Cd Bolivar, Coro, Cumana, La Guayra, Maracaibo, Maturin, 
Pto Cabello, Pto Sucre, St. Lucia 

MEXICO 

Campeche, Frontera, Novelo Progresso, Tampico, Vera Cruz 

CENTRAL AMERICA 
COSTA RICO NICARAGUA BRITISH HONDURAS 

Limon Corinto Belize, Pto Cortez 

SPANISH HONDURAS 

Amapola, Ceba. 

WEST INDIES 

Trindad, Port of Spain . St. Mare, Pto Plata, Bonaire Curacao, Bermuda, 

Macoris, Aux Cayes, Sav la Mar, Petit Goave, Curacao, Demerara, 

St. Barths, St. Kitts 

BAHAMA ISLANDS 

Cayman Brae, Grand Cayman, Nassau 

CUBA 

Arroyo, Cienfuegos, Cindad del Carmen, Guantaumo, Havana, Mantanzas, 

Neuvitas, Santiago 

HAITI 

-Cape Haiti. Gonaives, Jeremie, Port au Prince, Port de Paix, Jacmel, 

Miragoane, St. Marc 

SANTO DOMINGO 

Sto Domingo, Maroris. 

JAMAICA 

Falmouth, Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, St. Arms Bay 

LESSER ANTILLES 

Barbados; Christiansted, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Croix 
St. Martin, St. Thomas, St. Vincent 

PORTO RICO 

Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Mayaguez, Ponce, San Juan 

SOCIETY ISLANDS (Pacific Ocean) 

Papeete 

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 

Manila Honolulu 

CHINA PANAMA 

Shanghai, Tientsin Colon 



■vnrw 



\ OAKUM af Kindred Products I 



Guarantee Tags 



In the center of each bale of Oakum is inserted a 
guarantee tag, insuring to the purchaser that he is 
getting the grade of Oakum designated by the brand 
on the outside ; also that the quality of the Oakum 
in the bale is up to the standard of the grade. 

The number on the reverse side of the tag in- 
dicates to the factory, in the event of any com- 
plaint, the day and hour the Oakum was made. It 
also enables us to trace all the materials entering 
into the manufacture of the goods. 



64 



OAKUM ^Kindred Boducts 3 




The Stratford Paper Co. is under the same man- 
agement and practically the same ownership as 
George Stratford Oakum Co. Its predecessor, 
the Jersey City Paper Co., was founded in 1876 by 
George Stratford. The Stratford Paper Co.'s 
Plant adjoins the plant of George Stratford Oakum 
Co. The Stratford Paper Co. manufactures Four- 
drinier Tissue, White and Colored, G. B. Silver, 
Manifold, Celluloid and Specialties. 




Map showing location of George Stratford Oakum Co.'s 
and Stratford Paper Co.'s Plants 



66 



INDEX 



Plant of George Stratford Oakum Co 4-5 

History of George Stratford Oakum Co 6-10 

Definition of Oakum 11 

Romance of Oakum 12 

Oakum Classes and Grades 13 

New Best Oakum 14-15 

Best Oakum 16-17 

. U. S. Navy Oakum 18-19 

Navy Oakum 20-21 

Spun Marine Oakum 22-27 

Plumbers' Oakum ( 28-29 

Plumbers' Spun Oakum \ 

Plumbers' Coiled Oakum 30-31 

Plumbers' Navy Oakum ^ 

Horseshoers' Navy Oakum > 32-33 

Dealers' Navy Oakum ) 

Rope Oakum / 34-35 

Jute Packing ) 

Plaster and Upholstery Fibres 36-37 

Fire Proof Oakum / oo oq 

Spun Caulking Cotton ) "^^"-^^ 

Sheathing Felt 40-41 

Friction, Binders' and Trunk Boards 42-43 

Trade Customs 44 

Loading of Trucks 45-52 

Illustrations of Vessels Caulked with Stratford Oakum . 53-57 
Flag Raising at Factory of George Stratford Oakum Co. . . 58 

Letters of Appreciation 59 

Leaders in all New Things in Oakum 60 

No Danger of Spontaneous Combustion with Stratford's 

Oakum 61 

Wide Distribution of George Stratford Oakum Co.'s 

Products 62-63 

Guarantee Tags 64 

Plant of the Stratford Paper Co 65 

Map Showing Location of Plants of George Stratford 

Oakum Co. and Stratford Paper Co 66 



A ^ ^ 



237 90 






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